About

Realistic Pokémon Team is a trend in which Pokémon fans try to compile a Pokémon team based on their life experiences and interests while trying to keep their group as "realistic" as possible in relation to their geography, travels and personal interests. While Pokémon fans have a long internet history of discussing their "realistic" teams, the trend began gaining traction on TikTok in late May and early June 2025. As it spread, several TikTokers began posting videos criticizing some participants in the trend for picking difficult-to-catch and hard-to-train Pokemon, as well as listing mythical or legendary Pokémon on their team. The trend predominantly exists on TikTok Slideshows and is set to the Lake Verity song from the Pokémon OST.

Origin

Several Pokémon fans have posted threads discussing their "realistic" teams over the years, with Redditor /u/TheSaiyanKirby asking the /r/Pokémon^[1] subreddit about their realistic team on June 23rd, 2016, and DeviantArt^[2] user bluexorcist93 participating in the "Realistic Pokémon Team Challenge" on April 9th, 2020.

In May 2025, several TikTokers began sharing videos about what they think their "Realistic Pokémon Teams" would be, based on their backgrounds and life experiences.

On May 28th, TikToker^[3] @aero.mace posted a video about their realistic Pokémon team based on their job as a flight attendant, listing Pokémon like Meganium for its soothing and calming effects and a Cub Chew based on their travels to Alaska. The post gathered over 100,000 views and 8,000 likes in two weeks.

Spread

More TikTokers participated in the trend in June 2025, including TikToker^[4] @daymattaaah, who posted a video on June 6th, 2025, including a Growlith to represent his dog, as the more advanced Pokémon they would encounter as a construction worker, like a Lairon and a Kabutops. The video gathered over 200,000 plays and 10,000 likes in three days.

More TikTokers participated in the Realistic Pokémon Team trend in early June 2025, as seen in a June 5th, 2025, post by TikToker^[5] @spacemanspence, who listed a Beldum to help with his work as an astrophysicist and gathered over 500,000 plays and 69,000 likes in four days.

On June 5th, TikToker^[7]@kzk_stash7 posted a video defending his decision to include legendary Pokémon like Zekrom, as well as a Lucario and a Corviknight. The video gathered over 200,000 plays and 25,000 likes in four days.

Meanwhile, on June 7th, TikToker^[6] @ecstasytwn jokingly listed anthropomorphic and effeminate Pokémon like Gardevoir to "hang out" with, gathering over 1 million views and 120,000 likes in two days.

Realistic Pokémon Team Backlash

Several TikTokers posted videos criticizing people for listing hard-to-catch legendary Pokémon in their "realistic" teams, as seen in a June 7th, 2025, video by TikToker^[8] @taco.junk, who criticized people for being the "antithesis of being humble," joking, "buddy you had an emo phase, that doesn't mean you have the skill to catch a Rayquaza." The video gathered over 400,000 plays and 59,000 likes in two days.

On June 6th, TikToker^[9] @notwildlin posted a video posing as a person looking for a roommate in the Pokémon world, only to encounter people whose "realistic teams" include large Pokémon like Garchomp. The video gathered over 1 million plays and 200,000 likes in three days.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References